← New search

2006 Buick Lacrosse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lacrosse years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Buick Lacrosse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

218 reports with mileage · 81 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 156 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports7 fire reports12 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

83 reports
Clear category filter
24,920 miles · Nov 3, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DASH LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION (ABOUT 2 TIMES PER MONTH). IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE DASH LIGHTS MAY COME ON FROM FIVE MINUTES TO AN HOUR AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT HAS DONE OUT WHILE …

Read full complaint

DASH LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION (ABOUT 2 TIMES PER MONTH). IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE DASH LIGHTS MAY COME ON FROM FIVE MINUTES TO AN HOUR AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT HAS DONE OUT WHILE DRIVING. GM HAS OFFERED A DIAGNOSES OF THE PROBLEM BUT THIS WOULD ONLY BE BENEFICIAL IF THEY WERE OFF AND STAYED OFF WHEN I WOULD GO TO A DEALER. I HAVE TRIED THIS ANY THE LIGHTS ALWAYS COME BACK ON BEFORE I ARRIVE. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A BUICK THE SAME YEAR AS MINE AND HIS DOES THE SAME THING. THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND SAYS IT IS SUPPOSE TO WORK THAT WAY. THEY ARE WRONG ON THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT YOU CAN NOT SEE ANYTHING IN THE DASH LIGHTED AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434072

16,400 miles · Jun 23, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT 10 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE REST OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. HE WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS BEFORE THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT 10 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE REST OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. HE WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS BEFORE THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND WAITED ONCE MORE FOR THE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. ONCE THE LIGHTS ACTIVATED AGAIN, HE DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME WITHOUT USING HIS TURN SIGNALS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THERE HAD BEEN NO OTHER OCCURRENCES SINCE THE RECENT FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,400. UPDATED 07/09/08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10232029

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2008
Air BagsElectrical System

2006 BUICK LACROSSE WITH DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LIGHT WILL GO FROM OFF TO ON AT ANY TIME WHILE SOMEONE WHO WEIGHS MORE THEN 125 POUNDS IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED, THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD DISPLAY THE SEAT BELT WAS UN…

Read full complaint

2006 BUICK LACROSSE WITH DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LIGHT WILL GO FROM OFF TO ON AT ANY TIME WHILE SOMEONE WHO WEIGHS MORE THEN 125 POUNDS IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED, THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD DISPLAY THE SEAT BELT WAS UNBUCKLED. *JB UPDATED 12/08/11

NHTSA ODI #10229546

Official recalls

3

15V519000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Aug 14, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14291.

14V355000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jun 23, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

06V417000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 31, 2006

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights

Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.